Clement Akor, an Indian hemp farmer, has begged operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to take his life instead of destroying his farm.
The 42-year-old father of six from Enabo village in the Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, and his associate, David Ameh, said to be the owners of the 10-hectare cannabis plantation, were arrested by the Kogi State Command of the agency.
Akor, who begged the operatives profusely, said he can not afford to lose everything he laboured for, after investing so much in the business.
He said he learnt Indian hemp business from Owo, Ondo State, and decided to start his in Kogi.
The NDLEA operatives, were led by the state commander, Alfred Adewumi, when they stormed the farm located in Oketepe, Okula community, about 10 kilometres from Ejule, in Kogi.
The suspected said he preferred to be killed by the operatives, than watch the officers destroy what he worked hard for in the last one year.
Akor stated, “I am the owner of this farm. I learnt it in Yorubaland. When I cultivated the produce last year, it was stolen. So, this year, I bought the seed from Yorubaland and planted it before I was caught.
“The Indian hemp business is by luck. In this farm, I can get many bags. I do sell one bag for N20,000, depending on the area where I am selling it to. It can be me more. I spent N12,000 on cultivating this farm. It is better for you people to kill me than destroy this farm.”
“This is my business. I spent a lot to allow this plant to grow up to this level. In the next two weeks, I am supposed to harvest it. Now, you people have come here to destroy it. Just kill me so that I won’t see you people destroying what I have laboured for. I am looking for money because I am illiterate. I don’t want to engage in armed robbery or kidnapping, that is why I am into this business of Indian hemp cultivation and sale.”
Took effort of the NDLEA Boss, to calm him down.
Addressing journalists shortly after the destruction of the farm, Adewumi lamented the increasing wave of cultivation and use of cannabis sativa in the state, adding that the war agaisnt illicit drugs would continue.
He said, “Seeing they say is believing. What you are seeing today is certainly more than three football Field but together. I would make you make your judgment. Just look around, that is the huge expanse. We just left the first farm which is equally a huge cannabis plantation.
” This is very unfortunate. I am worried about this unfortunate development. I have thought that Kogi State will not descend to this point. As things stand today, it will be direct self-denial to begin to say that Kogi State is not planting Cannabis Sativa because the evidence itself suggests the fact that there is high planting of Cannabis Sativa in Kogi State. Sadly Kogi State can also now begin to rank among those state where you find Cannabis Sativa plantations.
“We will not relent in fighting against illicit use of a drug that is why we took the fight to their doorstep. Kogi State is the gateway to a man other states in the north, south, east and western parts of this country.
“I had promised at the point of my deployment to Kogi State that I won’t give room for anybody to turn Kogi State to a drug cultivation State. And because of that, we have spread out our tentacles, reach out as far as possible with intelligence gathering, this result is why you are seeing today,” Adewumi noted.
All the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded, he assured.
